McShin In The News

McShin In The News

Decision Maker: Alden Gregory with The McShin Foundation

The most difficult situation faced on the job: “Dealing with the consequences of substance use disorders. Because of my job at McShin, many of the important relationships I have and value today are with people in recovery. This is amazing, and one of my favorite things about my job, but it can also cause ... on Feb 05 2018

Priest moved to help addicts

Citing zoning and the comprehensive plan, the council voted, 7-0, to deny Richmond-based McShin Foundation's special permit request to operate a 28-day, overnight addiction recovery center at 30 ... For those and other reasons, he believes McShin's proposal would be “a benefit to this community.” on Feb 02 2018

Warrenton officials form working group on local opioid crisis

The Warrenton Town Council and the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors have announced a joint working group comprised of elected officials as well as representatives of the McShin Foundation, the PATH Foundation and the regional Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services Board. The group ... on Feb 02 2018

Warrenton officials form working group on local opioid crisis

The Warrenton Town Council and the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors have announced a joint working group comprised of elected officials as well as representatives of the McShin Foundation, the PATH Foundation and the regional Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services Board. The group ... on Feb 01 2018

Moving in the right direction

There have been rumblings that recent decisions made by town and county leaders to unravel the McShin Foundation's plans for a residential addiction rehabilitation center were based on “not in my backyard” sentiments, cloaked in the excuse of regulatory restraints. The town council's Jan. 9 vote to .. on Feb 01 2018

Fighting addiction

Addiction survivors, family members, friends, and community members gather to support the McShin Foundation Hopewell Day Program at their first open house fundraiser held on Saturday, Jan. 27 at City Point Restoration Church of God in Hopewell. on Jan 28 2018

County will host opioid crisis “retreat” Feb. 16

People gather for a Warrenton vigil in 2016 to remember those who died of drug overdoses.

This is a difficult issue. Addicts’ brains aren’t all alike. Treatment options are different; the effectiveness of them is different.
He expects next month’s half-day retreat to answer range of “big questions” related to Fauquier’s opioid addiction problems.

“I think what everybody wants to know is: What are the various types of overdoses that are happening monthly, quarterly, annually in the county?” Supervisor Chris Granger (Center District) said. “Who’s working on treatment? From a nonprofit and governmental side, what kind of resources are there? What’s missing?”

His display seeks to raise opioid crisis awareness

So Charlie Brooke, a 73-year-old recovering alcoholic, asked The McShin Foundation of Richmond if he could borrow the addiction recovery group's “White Marker Project.” The portable, outdoor exhibit features 3,500 small, wooden crosses – most of them attached to four chain-link fence sections ... on Jan 26 2018

The front-yard display, on loan from the McShin Foundation's Richmond headquarters, was erected Monday afternoon to raise awareness of the toll addiction takes on residents not only in Warrenton, but across the state. Virginia saw 1,405 deaths from opioid overdoses in 2016. The display depicts the ... on Jan 26 2018

Imagine the problems of a typical suburban teen: Calculus test? Girlfriend issues? Not sure what to wear to prom?

Most people don’t picture heroin addiction.

I would say that we’re just a normal family,” said Henrico County mom Jenny Derr. “I was room parent for my kids, on the PTA board, and we sat down and ate dinner together every night.”

But the model family was shattered when they learned their son, Billy, a popular student at Mills Godwin High School, was addicted to drugs. After struggling for several years to stay sober and kick the addiction, Billy passed away from an overdose on April 12, 2016.

North of the James

Letter: McShin is here to save lives, help families cope with drug addiction

Many people don’t know me as a person and they think that I just showed up in Fauquier and decided the county has an addiction problem and planted the McShin Recovery Center here.

Let’s go back for a minute here and talk about me and why I think McShin is a great program for Fauquier County. I grew up here, I graduated from the beloved Fauquier High School (Class of ’91). I started rearing children in this county and then later moved. My husband is a teacher at Cedar Lee Middle. This is the roots of my family. My parents, aunts, uncles, cousins went to Fauquier High School. My grandparents were in Warrenton and Morrisville. This is the county that I call home even though I don’t live in this county right now (we are hoping to find something very soon). My children go to school in this county. This is home.

I think about the opposition that people have talked about pertaining to McShin, not that one single person has come to me about their feelings. All I hear is that you don’t want a recovery center. When I was in high school here, you didn’t want a Walmart either but now it’s accepted and always busy with shoppers. on Jan 04 2018

County would allow McShin residential treatment center in Rider building

Fauquier County government will sign a lease with the McShin Foundation permitting a residential addiction treatment center in the Rider building should Warrenton Town Council grant a special-use permit for that use.

County Administrator Paul McCulla stated the county’s intent to do so in a Dec. 28 letter to Town Manager Brannon Godfrey. The county is in the midst of finalizing the purchase of the building at 30 John Marshall St. and an adjacent parking lot from Mill Pond Investments, LLC. The county has been renting the parking lot.

Town Council is scheduled to discuss the McShin permit request during a work session this Thursday at 7 p.m. in advance of a public hearing at 7 p.m. next Tuesday during the regular council meeting. on Jan 04 2018

McShin Foundation remembers lives lost to substance abuse

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -
The McShin Foundation is holding a vigil at a Richmond church to remember the live lost to substance abuse in 2017.

The “White Marker Project” at Celebration Church and Outreach Ministry features 3,500 white crosses, representing the number of Virginians who died from substance abuse.
"You see the number a lot, and then you actually have something tangible to show ... it really brings it into perspective for us," said Gregory Jones, McShin Foundation.

School of Recovery McShin Academy offers substance abuse treatment for teens close to home

or high school students in recovery from substance abuse, remaining in their typical school environment — often where adolescents are exposed to drug and alcohol abuse in the first place — can lead to relapse.

That’s why the McShin Foundation, Virginia’s leading peer-to-peer recovery community organization, partnered with another local nonprofit, St. Joseph’s Villa, to open a high school specifically for students in recovery at the Villa campus on Brook Road. on Dec 27 2017

Hanover officials, McShin Foundation's sober home talk over dispute

A week after the McShin Foundation aired frustrations over inspections of its Hanover County sober home at a public meeting, an attorney for the organization, the county’s attorney and a majority of Hanover’s supervisors reconvened to hash out the dispute. on Dec 27 2017

Recovery program frustrated over inspection of Hanover sober home

Bunnie Velotas was working at the kitchen table Tuesday afternoon when the Hanover County inspectors arrived at the sober home she manages.

The scrutiny of county officials has become a familiar but frustrating part of life for the female residents of the recovery house off Chamberlayne Road. Frustration over the county's treatment of the Hanover sober home was on display at a Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday when seven people spoke on behalf of the home, which the McShin Foundation and Shady Grove United Methodist Church opened in April. on Dec 15 2017

Busy Bee Meets Boss Babes Part 14. Honesty Liller

I am a woman in long-term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder. I have been drug and alcohol free since May 27th, 2007. I have two awesome kids and a supportive husband. I am from Hanover County. My passions are helping people with addiction, running/exercising, and learning about myself every day.

To be able to look in the mirror every day and love what I see has taken me some time, but well worth it now. To be a leader, you have to love yourself and be kind to those you are leading. on Dec 01 2017

FDA warns of injury, death with herbal supplement kratom

WASHINGTON (AP, WHSV) — Federal health authorities are warning about reports of injury, addiction and death with a herbal supplement that has been promoted as an alternative to opioid painkillers and other prescription drugs.

The supplement, kratom, made from a plant native to Southeast Asia, has gained popularity in the U.S. as a treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence. Users have opposed efforts to regulate the plant, saying it could be a safer alternative to opioid pain pills that have caused an epidemic of abuse.

A Sober High School Aims to Catch Addicted Teens Before They Become Fatal Statistics

Across the nation, teen drug overdose death rates have more than doubled in the past 15 years. The opioid epidemic sweeping Central Virginia is likely to push local overdose rates even higher, but teens struggling with addiction exhibit plenty of earlier warning signs — poor school performance, fractured relationships, isolation and depression — that most families are unequipped to handle alone. on Oct 31 2017

Using Data to Disrupt Virginia’s Opioid Crisis

As the opioid epidemic continues to affect thousands across Virginia, officials are looking for new ways to stem this public health crisis. The 2017 Governor’s Datathon brought together dozens of people who used public data to reimagine solutions to addiction. WCVE’s Catherine Komp has more for Virginia Currents. on Oct 06 2017

Experts advocate for leaving addicts in local jails

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Some experts are calling on more people to leave their loved ones in jail if they’re an addict. They say it could be the difference between life and death.

A mother 8News spoke with said when her son, Austin, who is an addict, was arrested a few months ago on drug charges, her first instinct was to bail him out as soon as possible as her mind raced with images of him in jail.

“That’s what I know is what I see on TV and people getting hurt in jail,” she said. Any parent’s instinct is to save their child, to rescue their child.”

CAYA, McShin Foundation to open recovery center in Warrenton

Moira Satre knows all too well the pain of losing a loved one to a heroin overdose.
Her son Bobby, 31, died from an overdose in April 2015. Shortly after, she decided to fight back against the heroin epidemic by forming the Come As You Are Foundation, working to provide support and treatment to those struggling with addiction and to help raise awareness through education and prevention programs.
In just its second year, CAYA recently made impressive strides in helping fight the addiction battle – by planning to partner with the McShin Foundation to open a recovery center at 30 John Marshall Street in Warrenton in the next few weeksSatre said the treatment facility came about as a partnership with the McShin Foundation, based in Richmond. on Aug 17 2017

The Stettinius Fund Honors Outstanding Nonprofit Leaders

In its thirteenth year, the Stettinius Fund for Nonprofit Leadership honored three nonprofit leaders with grants totaling over $26,000. Christopher Beach, Executive Director, Relationship Foundation of Virginia; Honesty Liller, CEO, The McShin Foundation, and Todd Martin, Deputy Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America, Heart of Virginia Council have been selected to pursue professional development opportunities of their own design. The Stettinius awards program was established by Cadmus Communications Corporation on the occasion of Wallace Stettinius’ retirement from the Cadmus Board of Directors. Since its inception in 2003, the Fund has recognized and supported outstanding professionals who provide effective organizational leadership within the local charitable sector. on Jul 21 2017

My love affair with heroin ended with recovery–by Honesty Liller

I sit here today with 10 years of recovery from a Substance Use Disorder and I feel unbelievable gratitude of how my life has changed.

Starting drug use at age twelve wasn’t a typical twelve year old’s life in my hometown. The first time I used, I felt free, happy, and had no cares. And once I found heroin at age seventeen, my life spun out of control.

McShin Foundation opens the organization's first sober home in Hanover

Shady Grove United Methodist Church's efforts to raise money to open a sober home in Hanover County began from a personal place.

Buz Edwards, the chair of the church's witness committee, knew a friend of his son who died of a drug overdose. At a church meeting in 2015 he asked for a moment of prayer to remember the young man shortly after Edwards had attended his funeral.

"He and my son were close friends when they were in middle school and high school," Edwards said. "You don't understand. You don't know why things like that happen." on Jun 16 2017

Planned community for addiction recovery in the works in Henrico

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Last week, plans for a controversial campground aimed at serving recovering addicts were pulled after residents living near the site voiced their concerns.

The campground would have been located near the corner of La France and Beulah Roads in the Eastern end of Henrico County. While those plans have been withdrawn, there are even bigger plans now in the works.

John Shinholser with the addiction recovery center The McShin Foundation says he believes a negative stigma surrounding addiction killed the original plan.

Female population at Henrico jail hits all-time high

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Recent statistics have shown a rapid increase in the number of women in jail. In fact, this past week, Henrico Jail saw an all-time high of 302 incarcerated females since it was first established in 1634.
The opioid epidemic has caused thousands of women, like 24-year-old Tiffany McCoy, to end up behind bars. on Jun 14 2017

In Virginia's opioid epidemic, this drug is the top killer

As opioid overdose deaths continue to surge, one drug has come out ahead of all the other killers in Virginia — and many may not have known they were using it.

Fentanyl became the deadliest drug in the state last year, surging past heroin and prescription painkillers. Evidence that the painkiller epidemic gave rise to a new wave of heroin use has continued to grow, with illegal opioid deaths outnumbering prescription opioid deaths since 2013. on May 04 2017

Fauquier jail inmates offered more resources for addiction recovery

People struggling with addiction in Fauquier County will soon have one more resource available to help them toward the path to recovery.
The McShin Foundation, which prides itself as being Virginia’s leading peer-to-peer recovery community organization, recently partnered with the Fauquier County Adult Detention Center. An addict who’s been in recovery for 12 years will be the jail’s facilitator for the program, offering support, advice, resources and guidance to inmates who want help. The program is open to people with any kind of addiction.

“There are so many waiting lists,” said Fauquier’s new program facilitator, who asked to remain anonymous. “I have literally been standing at a detox facility begging for help and been told, ‘I’m so sorry, we have 30-day waiting period.’"

But the McShin program offers immediate resources, she added. on Apr 22 2017

County jail intensifies its effort to help addicts

County jail intensifies its effort to help addicts

Fauquier County’s jail next month will start a program in which addicts help addicts.
The Richmond-based McShin Foundation will provide support and training for intensive counseling of inmates who struggle with substance abuse.
on Apr 20 2017

Spring Awards Press Release

I Moved Forward by Honesty Liller

Nearly ten years ago, I stood in a doorway with nothing but a couple trash bags of clothes, a Jeep on a car title loan, and a decision to make. Behind me were fourteen years of obsession and insanity surrounding drugs and whatever I had to do to get them. Fourteen years of putting those things in front of my family, my daughter and myself. In front of me was an opportunity for help that I wasn’t sure I even wanted. It was a small office, with a large, loud man trying to talk to me when all I could think about was the withdrawal that I knew was coming. But I was at a point of absolute devastation and desperation. I had been evicted from my apartment and didn’t have my daughter. I had nowhere to go and no one left to help me if I didn’t take this offer. So I picked up the trash bags of clothes, and I moved forward. on Apr 12 2017

John Shinholser column: Our political system is not working to help opiod addicts

Another General Assembly session has come and gone and not much has been done to curb the opiate overdoses and correlating addiction epidemic. Oh sure, there are a few “chipper laws” that chip around the bigger needs: bills passed, an increase in Narcan accessibility (to treat overdoses), limited needle exchange, a few dollars for a broken, rigged Medicaid peer-support provider system — but not much else.
Some would have the common citizen think same-day assessment at a local Community Service Board (CSB) is an improvement, but that charade is akin to a motorist pulling in for gas only to be “assessed” that they need gas and told to come back in six weeks and then they’ll start pumping out a quart a week for 12 weeks. Whoopee! on Mar 20 2017

McShin Showcased on the Road to Recovery Series

Secretary Clinton And Mr. Trump: Meet The Inmates Facing Addiction In The Chesterfield County Jail

Ryan Hampton - Chesterfield County Jail, Chesterfield, VA

One of the final stops on my 2,500-mile trek to the Democratic National Convention was Chesterfield County, Virginia. Two weeks ago, before leaving my hometown, Los Angeles, I received a call from John Shinholser, founder of the McShin Foundation in Richmond, Virginia. He told me something very special is happening in Chesterfield. A Republican elected Sheriff is investing in recovery services for inmates through a new program that Shinholser and the Sheriff are leading, called the Heroin Addiction Recovery Program (aka HARP). And they are doing it without help from the local, state, or federal governments. In fact, the Sheriff is funding the entire program from his own budget because he came to the realization that the way our country has been doing business with respect to incarcerating those suffering from addiction was not working… and will never work. So John and the Sheriff created their own innovative approach. I was intrigued and had to see what is happening there with my own eyes.

Doctor used three local offices for oxycodone ‘pill mill’

RICHMOND, Va. -- A Virginia physician with offices in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield has been charged for his role in getting oxycodone to the streets, according to recently unsealed court documents.

Dr. Clarence Scranage Jr. worked with Anthony Harper, who recruited patients to send to Scranage for oxycodone prescriptions, according to court documents.
Harper would give the names of the patients to Scranage, who would write 30 mg prescriptions for the Schedule II narcotic drug. Harper paid the doctor and then sold the drugs to dealers and users, according to the grand jury documents. on Mar 01 2017

End The Prison-For-Profit Movement & Offer Recovery Solutions Now

My name is Ryan Riggs and I am a person in long-term recovery from addiction. What that means to me, is that I have not found it necessary to use any mood or mind-altering substances since April 20, 2015. This journey has been the most amazing experience that I have ever had, and it only continues to get better. My story, in large part, involves the criminal justice system. As result of my addiction and lack of resources, I fell into a vicious cycle of drug use, incarceration, and dereliction. Nine overdoses and fifteen or more jail sentences later, I found a way out. Jail and prison are not the solution to addiction. My life today is beyond my wildest dreams, but let me tell you a little bit about the journey... on Feb 26 2017

Local recovery center says new opioid abuse laws are a start, not enough

RICHMOND, Va. -- Governor Terry McAuliffe signed legislation into law Thursday that is designed to help reduce opioid abuse across the Commonwealth.

Zoe Keehnle, a recovering heroin addict, says this legislation hits close to home because of her history of drug abuse.
The 23-year-old says she lost a close friend from a heroin overdose.
Keehnle said she’s had some close calls herself.
"Since I was 20, I've overdosed four times, whether it just be on heroin or Benzos, Zanax...” she said. on Feb 24 2017

Former addict spoke to jail inmates about recovery and hope

John Shinholster, president of The McShin Foundation, gave a talk at J Reuben Long Detention Center about addiction Thursday afternoon. He shared with inmates his struggle with addiction and his long-term recovery, and tried to give them hope for change. The speech is part of Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Addiction and Recovery Series.
Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article133264119.html#storylink=cpy on Feb 20 2017

A proposal that would have shielded overdose victims from criminal prosecution when someone sought medical help to save them was struck down Wednesday in a House subcommittee over fears the move could enable drug use.

The vote to kill the bill from Del. Betsy B. Carr, D-Richmond, followed a revision made at the request of Republican delegates not swayed by emotional testimony on Monday from a father who said the measure would save the lives of people such as his son.

$15,000 Rotary grant will help McShin battle community addiction

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Three people battling addiction will now get the help they need, thanks in part, to a $15,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Richmond to the McShin Foundation. The money will provide three scholarships to the Henrico-based center that helps drug and alcohol addicts recover.

Rotary Club members said they chose McShin as a grant recipient because it was an investment in the community.

Stas

My name is Stas and I am the Director of Youth & Family Development at The McShin Foundation. There was a point in time where I thought my life was over. I was homeless. My family wouldn’t talk to me. I had no money. I had pawned all of my possessions. And I was still looking for drugs. One night, I climbed out of a dumpster looking deranged, with cuts from broken glass on my hands and arms, and a security guard stood in front of me. All he said was, “I don’t know what you’re doing, I’m not going to call the police, but you need to get out of here and get help.” Then he left. I got high and called my dad to tell him my genius plan was to hitchhike across America and grow weed in Seattle. He told me I’m an idiot and need to reach out to someone who can help. on Feb 02 2017

McShin Foundation Named Recipient of the 2016 kaléo Cares Award

Kaléo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company, today announced the McShin Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization in Richmond, Virginia, has been awarded the 2016 kaléo Cares Award for outstanding achievements serving patients in need.

The McShin Foundation, founded in 2004, is a non-profit full-service Recovery Community Organization, committed to serving individuals and families in their fight against Substance Use Disorders (SUD). McShin offers peer-to-peer intervention and recovery services, residential recovery support and a new program for high school students. The organization responds to more than 200,000 recovery support requests each year. on Jan 18 2017

McShin Foundation - immediate support to addicted people

How did the McShin Foundation begin?

McShin was started by John Shinholser and Carol McDaid. They are a married couple with combined over 50 years of recovery. The reason is because when an addict in our area reached out for help to the local community services there was a 30-90 day wait for a bed anywhere. John and Carol thought that was horrible and started McShin. When an addict/alcoholic asks for help, they need to have the help that day. on Jan 07 2017

2016 Kaléo Cares Award

Livin' The Dream

I am a proud person in long-term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder and what that means to me is I have been drug free for 9 years. I started using drugs at age 12, found heroin at age 17, and my life started to go downhill. Nothing was important to me but using drugs. During this whirlwind I became pregnant and that didn’t stop me from using either. I had been in and out of treatment for years until I finally threw my hands up and gave myself to recovery. The McShin Foundation took me in with no money and showed me how to live. on Jan 06 2017

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Chesterfield County women’s jail is making national headlines following a Facebook live video shot inside the jail aimed at tackling opioid addiction.

Patsy Garnet is an inmate in the jail seeking long-term recovery from her heroin addiction. She is seen speaking out in the video about how the county’s Heroin Addiction Recovery Program (HARP) is helping inmates like herself get clean. Garnet says she was on her way to the medical facility when Chesterfield County Sheriff, Karl Leonard, asked how he can help. on Jan 06 2017

McShin Earns the 2016 Kaléo Cares Award

Kaléo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company, recently announced that Henrico-based McShin Foundation has been awarded the 2016 Kaléo Cares Award for outstanding achievement in serving patients in need. The McShin Foundation, founded in 2004, is a nonprofit full-service Recovery Community Organization, committed to serving individuals and families in their fight against substance abuse disorders. McShin offers peer-to-peer intervention and recovery services, residential recovery support and a new program for high school students. The organization responds to more than 200,000 recovery support requests each year. This is the second year of the award. on Jan 02 2017

The Stigma of Addiction

Navigating Holiday Stress and Avoiding Relapse

The holidays can be a time of great joy, but for those in addiction recovery the season can be a minefield of triggers and temptations. Dealing with difficult family relationships, managing holiday-related financial stress, and avoiding temptations to drink or use other substances at holiday parties are just a few of the ways the holidays can be a challenge for someone in recovery. on Dec 09 2016

AG Herring relaunches

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. – In response to the ongoing heroin and prescription drug crisis, Virginia’s Attorney General is relaunching www.hardesthitva.com, a website aimed at connecting Virginians to treatment resource centers and expending education and prevention materials on the drug abuse epidemic.

On Monday night, Mark Herring sat with families from across the commonwealth who’ve been touched by addiction.

They watched, in silence, the award winning documentary on the drug crisis that has claimed hundreds of lives in every corner of the state. on Dec 06 2016

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced Monday morning the relaunching of www.HardestHitVA.com as a one-stop shop for prevention and educational materials on Virginia’s heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis, as well as a treatment resource locator to help Virginians and their families connect with treatment resources in their community.

The relaunched www.HardestHitVA.com will host Attorney General Herring’s award-winning documentary “Heroin: The Hardest Hit,” which features Virginians telling their own stories of addiction, overdose and recovery, including testimony from parents who lost their children to an overdose, Virginians in long-term recovery, and law enforcement and healthcare professionals working to address the problem. on Dec 05 2016

AG Herring will host screening of award-winning opioid documentary

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Attorney General Mark Herring and the McShin Foundation, a Henrico-based recovery community organization, will host a one-year anniversary screening of “Heroin: The Hardest Hit,” the award-winning documentary produced by Attorney General Herring to raise awareness of the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis.

The film will screen on December 5, at 6 p.m. at the McShin Foundation, on Dumbarton Road in Richmond. on Dec 01 2016

Chesterfield sheriff launches new program for addicted women as part of larger shift in services

When Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard broke the news, Jessica Esposito cradled her head in her hands and cried quietly.

The room of female inmates fell silent; some shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Taylor Grow had been clean for seven months, Leonard said. But that past Saturday, after he had been released, Grow used again. He eventually died after being on life support. He was 24. on Nov 23 2016

Great Nonprofit Bosses in RVA Nominees 2016

“She is a living embodiment of the hope and positivity that can lead to a beautiful life in recovery. Honesty has created a work environment where the seriousness of the disease we fight against is balanced with laughter, joy and an understanding of self-care.” on Nov 22 2016

Former addict believes new classification of ‘drug addiction’ will save lives

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Just five days ago, recovering addict Justin Ray lived behind bars, but now he's trying to live a normal life in a recovery house, something he has never really done as an adult.

"I started using drugs and alcohol when I was 13, and I'll be 25 tomorrow," Ray said.

Ray's addiction led to jail time.

He said he would still be using drugs today if he hadn't learned about the McShin Recovery Foundation while in jail. on Nov 18 2016

Gathering community to aid those with addictions

McKenzie Payne is a wife and mother and operates her own business. With her enthusiasm and energy, she would seem to have a lot going for her, and she does.

But it was not always so.

She struggled with alcohol addiction as a teenager, and when she tried to stop, she couldn’t. It wasn’t until others stepped forward to guide her out of the darkness that Payne, 36, was able to get her life on track. on Nov 15 2016

Recovery support leaders want share of funding pie

Leaders who have pioneered innovative recovery support services emphasized to congressional staffers this week that a failure to distinguish between recovery and treatment services leaves recovery support organizations largely out of the federal funding equation. on Nov 06 2016

America's opioid epidemic shattering women's lives

ConnectVA Spotlight: Honesty Liller, The McShin Foundation

My name is Honesty Liller, and I’m the CEO of The McShin Foundation. I am a person in long-term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) for over nine years. Since I am in active recovery I am able to help others with SUD’s and guide them in their personal recovery. on Oct 12 2016

THE VOICE FOR RECOVERY ON CAPITOL HILL: Q&A WITH CAROL MCDAID

Carol McDaid is a registered federal lobbyist with over 25 years of legislative experience in Washington. Her past successes include leading the Parity NOW coalition that supported the passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The Q&A below features information on the policy aspects and future directions of the recovery movement.

John Shinholser: Addicts do recover and we should say it out loud

By John Shinholser
September was national recovery month for Substance Use Disorders, the one month out of the year we ask those 23 million citizens in successful recovery to live their recovery out loud, let the country know “we do recover.”

It is equally important for families in recovery to live their family recovery out loud as well: This is the only way we can reduce the stigma associated with addictions. And we can do it not only in September, but all year long. on Oct 04 2016

'No life worth having like this': A former Mills Godwin High School soccer player’s story of addiction, desperation and recovery

Part I: ‘I’d see you in a morgue’
Andrew Nelson was high on Xanax the morning of Halloween during his junior year, when he and his brother buckled into his beat-up, white Toyota Corolla bound for Mills Godwin High School.

Andrew had taken 10 pills the previous night, maybe a dozen. On the four-lane roads leading to school, he sped to 60, 70 mph. He screeched into a parking spot and scraped the car next to him, dragging his front quarter panel against its doors.

They were late, as usual, so Andrew bolted for the building. He left the car in drive and his door open. Minutes later, during the Pledge of Allegiance, he passed out, his head on the desk. Administrators called for his mother, Debbie, and she took Andrew home. on Sep 28 2016

How next mayor plans to help RVA drug addicts recover wtvr.com

RICHMOND, Va. -- Facing Richmond’s opiate epidemic, seven of the mayoral candidates pledged support for drug addiction and mental healthcare solutions at a recent forum of the McShin Foundation.

"Someone mentioned we have to break the stigma of addiction," Richmond mayoral candidate Jon Baliles said. "I’m pretty sure I’m not speaking for all the candidates, but I’m pretty sure that none of us haven’t been through friends or family through something with an addiction or mental health issue. We’ve all seen it."

Baliles said that he would look into expanding services for recovering addicts as well as establishing substance abuse and mental health education and screening programs in the city’s public schools.

Faces of Recovery: Acupuncture offers alternative to opioids

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Brittany Stigall sits back and breathes out as needles are inserted into her ear. This is a milestone moment for her. However, with the good comes a battle she has been fighting for more than three years.

“I’ve been clean for almost 60 days, so I have a lot of things coming back to me,” she says quietly.

Stigall is in recovery for heroin addiction. Pain she numbed with drugs is a reality again. It is why she is trying something new today to manage it.

Inside a second floor classroom of Harris Hall, VCU political science professor Eric King delivered a lecture to his dozens of POLI 343 “Black Political Thought” students.

On this day in early September, King scribbled in black marker the Latin words “dominus,” meaning master, or owner, and “potens,” meaning potential or powerful, across the whiteboard at the front of the room.

Both words, he said, amount to different forms of – or threats to – power.

Anne Moss Rogers knows the pain of losing a son to addiction.
Her son, Charles Rogers, 20, died after a short battle with painkillers, heroin and depression.
On Monday evening, Rogers told her story, along with several other addict families, to candidates vying to become Richmond’s next mayor.
Rogers told the mayoral hopefuls that there were few resources to help her son. Rogers committed suicide one week after being turned away from a psychiatric facility. on Sep 20 2016

McShin Foundation holds forum with Richmond mayoral hopefuls

Candidates to become Richmond’s next mayor were asked to first listen, not talk, Monday as those affected by addiction and its consequences drilled down on barriers to treatment and recovery in a community wracked by drug dependency. on Sep 20 2016

The 2016 BBQ and Recovery Fest Press Release

The graduates: Addicts find recovery, hope in Chesterfield County Jail’s heroin program

In many ways, it seemed like any other graduation.

The ceremony began in the usual manner with a series of speeches – some humorous and poignant recollections of bygone days, others exhorting the new graduates to go out into the world and make a difference.

It concluded shortly after the presentation of certificates, followed by congratulations from family and friends. There were hugs and handshakes, smiles and tears.

But for the four recovering heroin addicts recognized last Thursday night on the second floor of the county jail, graduation represents something far more meaningful than simply beginning the next phase of their lives.

John | September 9, 2016

John Shinholser is President of the McShin Foundation, a provider of detox and recovery services and sober living residences in the Richmond area. Founded in 2004, the organization supports individuals and their families in recovering from addiction, and appeals to government agencies and community groups to reduce the stigma of addiction and reframe the way substance use disorders are understood and confronted.
on Sep 09 2016

Secretary Clinton And Mr. Trump: Meet The Inmates Facing Addiction In The Chesterfield County Jail

One of the final stops on my 2,500-mile trek to the Democratic National Convention was Chesterfield County, Virginia. Two weeks ago, before leaving my hometown, Los Angeles, I received a call from John Shinholser, founder of the McShin Foundation in Richmond, Virginia. He told me something very special is happening in Chesterfield. A Republican elected Sheriff is investing in recovery services for inmates through a new program that Shinholser and the Sheriff are leading, called the Heroin Addiction Recovery Program (aka HARP). And they are doing it without help from the local, state, or federal governments. In fact, the Sheriff is funding the entire program from his own budget because he came to the realization that the way our country has been doing business with respect to incarcerating those suffering from addiction was not working… and will never work. So John and the Sheriff created their own innovative approach. I was intrigued and had to see what is happening there with my own eyes. on Aug 02 2016

My Life: Recovery is a blessing

by Honesty Liller
I sit here in my office looking at all my pictures of my family and friends on my pink walls (my home away from home).
Today, I celebrate nine years of long-term recovery from a substance use disorder. on Jul 27 2016

Fentanyl, heroin overdoses contributing to backlog at state crime lab

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Fentanyl is a powerful and popular drug, especially for users looking to get high when heroin is no longer enough. The Department of Forensic Science says they are seeing fentanyl show up more and more in their opioid overdose testing.

Chasing a high he could no longer get from snorting heroin, 34-year-old Ryan Nichols turned to fentanyl.
"I knew that it was dangerous, it was more potent," said Nichols. "I knew that it took less to get the desired effect. At the time, I really didn't care about the dangerous part of it. I just wanted something that was stronger."

Fentanyl is same the prescription opioid that killed Prince. on Jun 30 2016

Fentanyl now Va.'s deadliest painkiller

The drug that killed Prince in April caused more deaths in Virginia last year than any other prescription painkiller.

Fentanyl, a prescription opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than morphine, has become a black-market drug rivaling heroin in the U.S., now that cartels have discovered how to make it in labs in Mexico and South America.

Honesty Liller, CEO of the McShin Foundation, an addiction recovery organization, said she does not hear addicts talking specifically about wanting to take fentanyl. More often, they’re looking for heroin, she said.

But in the past two months, the urine screens they require of their clients have shown a huge increase in fentanyl use, further suggesting that the drug often is laced with heroin. on Jun 14 2016

THE MCSHIN FOUNDATION: PROVIDING A NEW START

THE NEW HEROIN
Heroin is back. In Virginia, the number of deaths from a heroin overdose has more than doubled in the past three years. Rockbridge County is not immune. The Rockbridge County Drug Task Force says it has seen a 150 percent increase in both heroin possession and trafficking cases in the last year. Heroin was a popular recreational drug in the 1970s and 1980s, but lost its relevance with cocaine’s rise in popularity. Now heroin is back, and it’s cheaper, stronger and more addictive than ever before...

Stas Novitsky, the director of youth and family development at the McShin Foundation, first tried marijuana at 17. Soon after, he started doing cocaine and then heroin.

“My friends started doing heroin and up until that point I was super against heroin and needles,” he said. “Then I tried heroin and my thought became, ‘I don’t like needles unless they have heroin in them.’ That led me down the rabbit hole of addiction even further.”

Rappers must change the message -

Recently in a Manhattan night club the headlining act was the popular Atlanta-based rapper, T.I. His opening acts, rappers Maino and Uncle Murda, were on stage performing when the shots rang out. One man died and three others were wounded.

This type of incident is all too common in the violent world of gangster rap. The culture surrounding gangster rap is the No. 1 problem in our country. It’s a culture that destroys those who fully embrace it, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Every aspect of that culture should be judged, criticized and condemned by all. It’s not a racial issue. It’s a cultural issue that for whatever reason disproportionately affects African-Americans. How we got to this point matters less than how we fix it.

Speaker, John Shinholser, Part of this East Coast Initiative to Inspire Change.

Press Release

Speakers for Change, LLC

Currently, Speakers for Change offers well known recovery speakers, like Virginia's own, John Shinholser, who leads the way in recovery related services and is President of The McShin Foundation here in Richmond.
A speaker bureau opens to serve East Coast communities with affordable, informed speakers to address the tough topic of addiction. Speakers for Change, will focus exclusively on bringing speakers on addiction, prevention, recovery, and advocacy into communities to educate others and inspire change,

Authorities in VA debate how to treat addictions

Timothy Starr asked a Chesterfield County judge to send him to jail for 90 days. He could’ve been out in 10 days for driving with a suspended license, but Starr thought a extra few months behind bars might save his life.

Starr, 27, first used heroin as a teenager in jail. Now he’s among about 30 inmates in Chesterfield who attend daily counseling sessions as part of a program meant to help them kick their addictions.

Foundation Helps Addicts Recover as Opioid Deaths Soar

Scraps of newspaper obituaries, photographs of the departed and handwritten notes in memory of loved ones collage the bottom third of a sectioned-off piece of the wall at the McShin Foundation’s intake office.

The delicate ensemble pays homage to lives lost to addiction – a tangible mnemonic indicative of a statewide epidemic. Inches to the right, the rest of the wall is covered with photos of smiling faces, separated from the deceased only by a faint line of demarcation.

“This is how we keep track of people when they leave housing,” said Michael Quinn, the intake specialist at the foundation, a local nonprofit recovery community organization. “If they’re doing well they’re above the line. People will come in all the time and kind of shift things around so we can keep better track of how people are doing.” on May 17 2016

Heroin addicts asking for longer jail stay because of popular new recovery program

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- More than 850 people have died in Virginia this year as a result of overdoses, making drug overdoses responsible for more deaths than car accidents, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Chesterfield County has experienced 50 overdoses and 14 deaths since January.

The alarming statistic prompted the Chesterfield Sheriff’s Office to start a recovery program using its own financial resources, and volunteers from addiction recovery organizations, like the McShin Foundation. on May 11 2016

Recovery Road: The Heroin and Opiate Epidemic in Virginia

Andrew Nelson, an 18-year-old senior at Mills E. Godwin High School, spends his free time playing soccer and writing music.

On the surface, he is like any other teenager, but, behind his fun-loving personality, there is a struggle. This struggle is known to many Virginians, and that is the struggle of addiction. on May 10 2016